Income at state parks dries up

The state agency that looks over all of the state parks is etched in limestone at Government Canyon State Park. Addressing media at Government Canyon State Park, Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife excecutive director, made a plea for for people to use the state parks and for donations. Stricken by drought and wildfires this past year, state parks have suffered from the lack of visitors. Smith said revenues have declined 25 percent from last year. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

A view of Government Canyon State Park from the South Bluff Spurs Overlook on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. Addressing media at Government Canyon State Park, Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife excecutive director, made a plea for for people to use the state parks and for donations. Stricken by drought and wildfires this past year, state parks have suffered from the lack of visitors. Smith said revenues have declined 25 percent from last year. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

A rocky trail leading toward the South Bluff Spurs Overlook at Government Canyon State Park on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. Addressing media at Government Canyon State Park, Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife excecutive director, made a plea for for people to use the state parks and for donations. Stricken by drought and wildfires this past year, state parks have suffered from the lack of visitors. Smith said revenues have declined 25 percent from last year. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Raccoon imprints are left along a muddy hiking path at Government Canyon State Park on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. Addressing media at Government Canyon State Park, Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife excecutive director, made a plea for for people to use the state parks and for donations. Stricken by drought and wildfires this past year, state parks have suffered from the lack of visitors. Smith said revenues have declined 25 percent from last year. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Addressing media at Government Canyon State Park, Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife excecutive director, makes a plea for for people to use the state parks and for donations. Stricken by drought and wildfires this past year, state parks have suffered from the lack of visitors. Smith said revenues have declined 25 percent from last year. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

An environmental display at Government Canyon State Park shows one of the endangered ground beetle that resides at the park. Addressing media at Government Canyon State Park, Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife excecutive director, made a plea for for people to use the state parks and for donations. Stricken by drought and wildfires this past year, state parks have suffered from the lack of visitors. Smith said revenues have declined 25 percent from last year. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Vegetation and the earth at Government Canyon State Park have greened up from recent rains. Addressing media at Government Canyon State Park, Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife excecutive director, makes a plea for for people to use the state parks and for donations. Stricken by drought and wildfires this past year, state parks have suffered from the lack of visitors. Smith said revenues have declined 25 percent from last year. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Fall foliage appears on trees at Government Canyon State Park on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. Addressing media at Government Canyon State Park, Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife excecutive director, makes a plea for for people to use the state parks and for donations. Stricken by drought and wildfires this past year, state parks have suffered from the lack of visitors. Smith said revenues have declined 25 percent from last year. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Record heat, drought and wildfires have caused the number of visitors to plummet at Texas state parks this year, leading to a critical $4.6 million budget shortfall and forcing state officials to plead for donations.

“We need all of you to take your family and friends and neighbors out to visit your state parks,” said Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executive director.

“Your state parks need help now more than ever,” he said in a news briefing Tuesday at Government Canyon State Natural Area.

Across the state, heat and drought emptied lakes and rivers that often are the most popular attractions at the state's 94 parks. Meanwhile, burn bans that outlawed making fires in almost every county stymied campers.

“Every year for the last decade, attendance has been climbing, but not this year,” Texas Parks and Wildlife deputy executive director Scott Boruff said. “We saw a 25 percent decrease in visitor revenue in August compared to last year, and there continued to be an 11 percent decline this fall.”

As a result, park usage and entry fees — which make up 50 percent of the park system's $69 million annual budget — took a nosedive and created the budget gap.

The popular 5,926-acre Bastrop State Park near Austin, for instance, showed an 88 percent drop in revenue in October after it was ravaged by a wildfire.

“It was 96 percent consumed, and we're having to cut out many of the trees that are still left,” Boruff said.

No parks are slated for closure, but Smith warned, “We may have to revisit that issue” if patronage doesn't rebound.

The parks department already has trimmed its budget 21 percent over the past two years, to about $300 million, he said, noting 230 jobs were cut.

“We don't think raising park fees is the solution,” said Smith, whose appearance in San Antonio was among 11 news conferences held statewide Tuesday to highlight the agency's budget woes.

He noted that a new state law that takes effect Jan. 1 allows residents to donate to the agency when they renew their motor vehicle registration.